Fireproof window.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 -M 4 w 0 I I 23% II. 0 6 d. a KM U 6 e F M o 6 6 W 4 5m0 mg a d [7106116010 K 120% UCLS'. I 9 01/6 PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906. J.KNITTWEIS. FIREPROOF WINDOW.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. 1906.

PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

J. KNITTWEIS. FIREPROOF WINDOW. APPLICATION PILEDAPB. 26. 1906.

2 SHEBTS-SHEBT 2.

Willis 1 660mm curd/0 M UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

JAooB KNITrWEIs, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. i

' FIREPROOF wmoow.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAcoB KNITTWEIS, a sub'ect of the German Emperor,residing in Philadel hia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain imrovements in Fireproof Windows, of w 'ch the following is aspecification.

One object of my invention is to rovide a construction of window-framean sashes, such that either one or both of said sashes may be easilyremoved from the frame in order that the outside surface of thewindowglass may be cleaned without the necessity or the cleaner beingoutside of the window.

A further object of the invention is to rovide counterbalance-weightsfor the sas es, frictional retarding means for the sashweights, and afusible device for releasing said retarding means to permit thecounterweights to cause closing of the sashes in the event of a rise oftemperature in their vicinity such as would be caused by fire, thedevice as a Whole being designed to cause both the upper and lowersashes to automatically move to and remain in their closed positions inthe event of such abnormal temperature use.

These objects I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of awindowframe and its sashes, illustrating in detail my invention asapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of certain of the,v

sash-controlling mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal section, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the detailconstruction of a portion of the sash structure. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of a form of hook which may be used to force theguidingsection of the sash into the side member thereof in order topermit said sashto be swung on its horizontal pivots, and Fig. 6 is apers ective view illustratin in detail certain of t e mechanism for gui'ng the movable side portions of the sash.

In the above drawings, A represents a fireproof window-frame of sheetmetal provided with hollow side sections for the reception ofsash-weights b and b, respectively belonging to the lower and u persashes. The inner vertical faces of said side membersare provided withvertically-extending sash-guideways a and a, of which the first isdesigned to receive the lower sash B and the second to Specification ofLetters Patent. Application filed April 86, 1906. Serial No 313,827.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

receive the upper sash B. Said sashes, as is 1nhese ed outwardly. toform the bearing-surfaces of the side members of they sash, beingfinally bent at right angles to said surface and rigidlyv clamped orheld vto the main sheet metal of said side members.

Extendin longitudinally within the guideways a an a of the window-frameare trough-sha ed guide-sections D, also of sheet metal, one or eachside member of each sash I), open on the face adjaand of substantiallythe same length thereas.

These ide-sections are outwardly flanged along t eir longitudinal ed es,as shown at d,

so as to engage the inward y-flanged portion b of the internal casings bEac section D is, moreover, free to move bodily into and out of itscasing b from the position shown in 'full lines in Fig. 4 to theposition shown in dotted lines, there being links (1 extend ng betweenand ivoted to the inner surface'of the casing and in any desired mannerto the inside surface of the guide-section D. A metallic block b isslidably mounted in a slot in the inner por-" tion of the casing 17 atapproximately its middle point, and from this there extend rods b,loosely connected to said block b as well as to the blocks (P, which, asabove noted, are fixed to the guide-section D. Also project ing fromeach block b of the lower sash is a pin or pintle b, to which ispivotally attached one end of a chain or cable 15?, connected to thesash-weightb. Similarchains b connect the similar pivot-pins of the uper sash B with the corresponding weights It will be understood thatmechanism similar to that described is provided for each side of theupper and lower sashes B and B it being noted that the sashweights b forthe lower sash are of such a mass that in the absence of the devicehereinafter described they will be overbalanced by said sash, being alsopivoted to blocks (1, fixed insuflicient to maintain the latter in itsraised osition. The weights b" for the up per sas on .the other hand,are of such a mass that they overbalance said sash, and

similarly in the absence of the device herein-.

after described will move it to and maintain it in it's closed position.

The device above referred to for normally maintaining the sashes in anyposition in which they may be placed consists in the present instance ofa casting E, placed one on each of the upper side portlons of and withinthe hollow window-frame. Upon each casting are suitably journaled thetwo pulleywhecls c and c or the reception of the chains or cablesconnecting the sash-weights with their respective sashes, and there isfor said two pulley-wheels e and e a brake-shoe e placed to bear uponthem and fixed to and guided by a rod 0 This rod has connected to it oneend of an n wardly-extending spring 6, the other end 0 which is attachedto a chain or cable e, passing upwardly and around a curved or bent-upportion of the metallic frame. The upper end of this chain 6 isconnected to a link through which loosely passes the central portion ofa second chain or cable e, whose ends are attached, res ectively, to apair of independently-revolu .)le spindles F, veach spindle, therefore,having connected to it one end of each chain c, comin from oppositesides of the windowframe. aid spindles F project through the respectivefaces of the top members of the window-frame and are squared at theirends for the reception of a wrench or crank whereby they may be turned.In addition each of these spindles has fixed to it a plate or disk f,

rojecting through the lower horizontal surace of the top member of thewindow-frame, as shown in Fig. 1. There are in the periphery of eachplate a series of small holes adapted to receive a pin or plug f,composed of metal designed to fuse at a predetermined sash-weights b.

and relatively low tem erature and so placed as to engage the winow-frame' to-prevent revolution of the plate.

In order to set the device, a suitable wrench is applied to the squaredend of either one of the s indles, which is thereby turned so as to winup one end of each of the chains 0', connected to it, and thereby causetension to be exerted upon the chains e and the springs e, so as toforce the brake-shoes e against their res eetive sets of sash-pulleyswith a force su cient to prevent the lower sash returning to' its closedposition under the action of its weights 1) after it has been moved fromsuch position. The action upon the upper sash is similar, since thisalso will now remain in anv position in which it is placed, because ofthe ressure upon the sash-pulleys exerted by t e brake-shoes e in spiteof the overbalancing tendency of the After sufficient amounts of thechains e have been wound upon the spindle F to cause the brake-shoes toexert the desired tension upon their pulleys thepin f is inserted in oneof the holes in the late f on said spindle,'.it being understood t at apin has previously been placed in the plate f of the other spindle, thefusible pins in both 'cases being inserted in that ortion of the platesprojecting through the ace of the windew-frame. If new the temperatureof the atmosphere or metal in the vicinity of either of the pins f beraised above the predetermined point at which the pinsf fuse-as, forexample, by a fire-said ms will melt, thereby releasing the brake-s oesfrom frictional engagement with their respective pulleys. Under suchconditions, owing to the unbalanced state of the various sashes, thesewill automatically return to their closed positions, since the lowersash overbalances its weights, while the upper sash is overbalanced byits weights.

In order to swing one of the sashes upon its pins b" as an axis, so asto obtain access to the outside surface of the glass, I raise the lowersash, for example, and by inserting hooks, such as that shown at G in Fi5, through opening 9 in the lower ends 0 each guidesection I) andpulling downwardly on said section I cause these latter to move into thecasings I) under the action of the-connecting links d' and rods (1. Inorder to permit of this action, the blocks If slide in their slots, itbeing understood that the connection between the rods and their adjacentparts is such as to cause the said guide-section to each move parallelto itself. The guidepieces D are thus brought into the positions shownin dotted lines in Fig. 4, with their outer edges free of the guidewaysin the sashframe, so that the sash B may be revolved upon its pins b asan axis, there being, preferably, bearing-pieces b attached to the lowerends of the chains 1; for the reception of the heads of said pins Afterthe necessary cleaning of the glass has been accomplished the sash isreturned to its normal vertical I osition, when, owing to its own weiht, it moves bodily downward relative y to the guide-sections D, whichare connected to the block b and to the end of the sash-chains, thelinks (1 moving on their pivots to permit of this action. By thisdownward movement the top and bottom portions of-the guide-sections areforced outwardly into the guideways of the sash-frame, and the sash isthen in condition for operation as before.

I claim 1. The combination of a windowframe, a sash movable therein, acounter weight or weights having a flexibleconnection attache ing it tosaid sash and so proportioned relatively to the sash as to cause it toautomatically return from its open toits closed positionunless otherwiseprevented, with means operative on said flexible connection formaintaining the sash in any position in its frame to which it is moved,substantially as described.

2. The combination of a window-frame, a

sash movable therein, a counter weight or weights an weights havingflexible connections with said sash and-so proportioned relatively tothe sash as to cause it to automatically return from an open to a closedposition unless otherwise prevented, a pulley for the flexibleconnections, and means operative on the pulism in operative condition,substantially as described. V 4. The combination of'a window-frame, asash therein, weights for the sash, pulleys, chains passing over thepulleys and connecting the wei' hts'to the sash, the masses of theweights an sash being so proportioned as to cause said sash toautomatic-ally'move from its open to its closed position unlessprevented, braking mechanism for the pulleys including shoes actingthereon, springs active to press the, shoes into engagementwith thepulleys, with a connection for maintaining said springs under strain,said connection including a body of fusible material whereby it may bereleased in the event of a predetermined rise of temperature,substantially as described. v Y

5. The combination of a window-frame, two sashes therein, pulleys forthe sashes, weights for the lower sash of a mass less than the same,weights for the upper sash of a mass greater than said upper sash,chains connecting said wei hts to their respective sashes, brake-shoesor the pulleys, a spring connected to each'brake-shoe, and adjust-' ableconnections between the springs and the window-frame, with fusiblematerial included in said connections for releasing the shoes from thepulley-wheels under conditions of abnormal rise of temperature,substantially as described.

6. The combination of a window-frame,

two sashes therein,.pulleys for the sashes,

weights for the lower sash of a mass less than the same, weights for theupper sash of a mass greater than said 'upper sash, chains connectingsaid weights to. their respective sashes, brake-shoes for the pulleys, aspring connected to each brake shoe, and means connected to the springsfor maintaining them in condition to press the shoes against thepulley-wheels, with fusible material included in said connectin meansand there laced to permit the re ease I of the shoes om thepulley-wheels in the event of an abnormal temperature rise on eitherface of the window frame,

subtantially as described 7. The combination of a window-frame, a

sash movable therein, a counter weight or weightsconnected to said sashand so proportioned relatively thereto as to cause it to automaticallyreturn from its open'to its closed position unless otherwise prevented,with a frictionally-acting device operative on theconnections betweenthe counter weight orweights for maintaining the sash in any position towhich it may be moved in its frame, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a window-frame, a sash movable therein, a counterweight or weights connected to said sash and so proportioned relativelythereto as to cause it to automatically return from its open to itsclosed position unless otherwise prevented, with a device placed to acton the connections between each counterweight and sash for retardingmovement of the sash in the frame and maintaining it in any position towhich it may be moved, and means for adjusting the amount of theretarding force exerted by said device, substantially as described.

9. The combination of awindow-frame, a sash movable therein, a counterWeight or Weights connected. to said sash and so proportioned relativelythereto as to cause it to for normally preventing closing of said sashincluding a pulley-wheel for the flexible connection, a brake-shoeoperative thereon, a revoluble member, a second flexible connectionbetween the brake-shoe and said member, with a piece of fusible materialfor normally preventing revolution of the member and for maintainingthebrakeshoe in englagement with the pulley, substantially asescribed. I

1 1. The combination of a window-frame, a sash movable therein,counterweights for the sash having flexible connections therewith,braking devices operative on the flexible connections, a revolublemember projecting through a portion of the window-frame, with flexibleconnections between the braking devices and said revoluble member, and aplug of fusible material for preventing revolution of the member andmaintaining the braking devices in condition to retain the sash in anygiven position in the frame, substantially as descri ed.

' fitting one of said holes for preventing revolution of the disks, twochains having their ends respectively connected to each spindle, aspring attached to each chain, with a friction-producing deviceconnected to each of said springs. and operative to prevent movement ofthe sash, substantially asdesoribed.

13. The'combination of a window-frame, a sash. movable therein, apulley-wheel on each side of the sash, sash-weights having flexibleconnections with the sash respectively extending. around saidpulley-wheels, brakeshoes for the pulley-wheels, a spring attached toeach brake-shoe, a chain connected to each spring and made in two parts,of which one is free to'move relatively to the-other, twoindependently-revoluble spindles each having connected to and wound uponit one end of each chain, disks on said spindles respectively projectingthrough opposite faces of the window-frame, there being holes around theperiphery of said disks, and plugs of fusible material constructed toenter any of said holes and retain the disks in osition to cause thebrake-shoes to frictional y bear upon the pulleys,-substantially asdescribed.

14. The combination of a window-frame, a sash .verticall movabletherein, each side sash member eing provided with a face portion movabletoward and from it, a sashweight for each side of the sash, and aflexible connection between said weight and said face portion, withmeans for causing said face portions to be normally maintained in theirouter positions b reason ofthe weight of the sash, substantial y asdescribed.

15. The combination of a window-frame, a sash member therein having sidemembers provided with face portions normally extending into thewindow-frame but movable into said side members to-permit removal. ofthe sash, sash-weights having flexible connections with said faceportions, there bein a pivot-pin interposed between the flexi 'leconnection and each face portion,- and links connectin each face portionwith its side sash mem er, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a sash havin -hol low side members provided withlongitudinally-extending and inwardly-projecting flanges, face portionsfor-each side member movable into and out of the hollows thereof,

a window-frame forsaid-sash provided with j guideways. for the receptionof said'face portions, sash-weights, flexible connections attachingsaidweights to the respective face portions, links movably connectingthe face portions to the sash, and a pivotal connection between eachface portion and its flexible connection, substantially as described.

17. The combination of a sash having hollow side members, a face portionforeach side member movable into and out of the same, links connectingeach face portion with the sash, a pivot-pin. mo'vably connected; toeach face portion, sash-Weights for the sash, chains connecting-thesash-weights with the respective pivot-pins, and a window-frame for thesash having longitudinally-extending recesses for the reception of theface portions,

In testimony whereof I have signed my I name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' JACOB KNITTWEIS. Witnesses:

GERTRUDE M. DENNY, WALTER OHIsM.

